Official Photograher Atanian to Exhibit Work in Gallery

Date: Friday, July 19, 2013

Newport Polo is pleased to invite its fans to a cocktail reception to celebrate a landmark moment in its 22 year history this Wednesday, July 31 from 6-9pm when acclaimed sport & fashion photographer Matthew J. Atanian will open an exhibit of his work at the Bellevue Avenue art gallery, Egg & Dart, 136 Bellevue Avenue in Newport.

The collection represents a choice selection of Newport International Polo Series images from over 30,000 taken by Atanian over the past 5 years, utilizing a special museum-gradecombination of digital laser and traditional hand darkroom process printing to exhibit a series of large format limited edition photographs as well as a collection of smaller prints, postcards and posters.

The exhibit will run through August 25. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the artist’s work will benefit awareness for Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease, a matter close to Atanian who was diagnosed with the disease in 2011.

The reception will launch a series of events planned for over a year in honor of the Italian Team. We hope that you will join us for these events to welcomethe Italian Polo teamfrom Rome, including the Bacchanale Ball on Friday evening at Rosecliff, and the USA vs. Italy polo match on Saturday, followed by the annual fieldside Lobsterbake. Please see the Schedule tab at the top of page to find details for all associated events.

Working as a photographer since 1988, Atanian is known for his spontaneous lifestyle approach to photography with a cinematic edge. An athlete with a love for sport, Atanian ‘s body of work has focused on some of the most eclectic and visually engaging sporting events including theMen’s and Women’s Pro Tennis Tours, The World Cup and professional ski racing circuits, equestrian events and the hugely challenging yacht racing world.

Traveling to South Miami Beach in the 1990's to cover sports, Atanian was enticed with the new challenge of shooting fashion and beauty. After receiving a contract with Marie Claire, Matthew moved to New York and to Paris to further his scope of work which has since appeared editorially in over 70 worldwide publications including Sports Illustrated, Outside Magazine, Elle, Mirabella, Marie Claire, Surface, People, Time and Newsweek. Atanian has won numerousawards including a Graphis Award and his work is part of the J. Walter Thompson permanent collection.

Having been diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease, Atanian decided to use his career in photography to raise awareness of the limitations of young patients as well as what they have been able to overcome. “I began to notice that my symptoms would dissipate while working. Whether hanging from a helicopter or on a boat shooting the Americas Cup my symptoms would lessen,” says Atanian. “I've received several explanations for this. The basis of which is that I'm using a different part of my brain, a part of the brain that wasn’t afflicted withParkinson's. So my photography remains unimpaired… that's my way of helping …creatively”.